MILPITAS, Calif. and SINGAPORE - October 30, 2000 - Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (Nasdaq:CHRT and SGX-ST:Chartered), one of the world's top three silicon foundries, today detailed the milestones and capabilities of its RF CMOS manufacturing processes for the 0.35-micron through 0.13-micron technology nodes. The RF CMOS offerings are based on Chartered's 'communications-smart' development strategy to optimize silicon manufacturing for a broad range of communications products, including Bluetooth-based applications as well as other wireless and RF products.

Chartered's RF CMOS technology roadmap has been defined in part by strategic alliances with leading semiconductor and communications systems developers. In particular, Ericsson Microelectronics and Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. have played key roles in the development and qualification of Chartered's RF CMOS processes for RF, baseband and other wireless products.

Chartered's 0.35-micron RF CMOS process has been fully qualified with sample devices delivered to Oki, and is ready for volume production. The 0.25-micron and 0.18-micron RF CMOS processes were jointly developed with Ericsson. Process qualification data for 0.25-micron RF CMOS is now available - including design rules, device modeling and characterization data - with prototyping expected in early 2001. Preliminary design rule, device modeling and characterization data for 0.18-micron RF CMOS is also available, with the RF models and characterization report available in December 2000. Characterization of 0.13-micron RF CMOS will commence in early 2001, and process qualification will be completed within one quarter following qualification of Chartered's 0.13-micron baseline technology.

"The ability to manufacture leading-edge applications in RF CMOS is critical to high-growth markets such as wireless communications from both a cost and reliability standpoint. We are especially excited about the potential of the Bluetooth short-range wireless protocol and the participation of Ericsson and Oki in the definition of our roadmap in this area," said Dr. John E. Martin, chief technology officer at Chartered. "Chartered is committed to offering the necessary production capabilities and capacity for these next-generation products, and to helping our customers implement them in advanced, cost-effective technologies and methodologies, such as system on chip."

Cost-effective RF CMOS Modules for System on chip
With Bluetooth-based products, cost is one of the main concerns in implementing a solution, and CMOS is acknowledged to be the most cost-effective process available. Chartered is actively working with its RF CMOS partners to deliver further cost reductions and competitive differentiation that can be achieved through higher levels of integration, including single-chip solutions. One such implementation using Chartered's 0.35-micron process was described in a paper presented last week during a Bluetooth Conference in Scotland.

The RF CMOS roadmap is based on Chartered's proven method of offering "plug-in" modules for its baseline technologies that include reusable process elements and multiple transistor configurations. The RF CMOS module features high performance transistors and a complete suite of passive components characterized and tuned for RF applications. The suite of passive components, includes spiral inductors, Metal Insulator Metal (MIM) capacitors, varactors, and poly-resistors, all of which are integral RF components for system on chip implementations targeting wireless applications. The RF CMOS module complements Chartered's existing family of modules, which includes embedded SRAM and mixed-signal.

Strategic Alliances Key to Success
Today's announcement underscores Chartered's commitment to a global business model that values long-term relationships with systems and semiconductor companies as a key enabler for delivering system-level silicon technologies to a broad range of markets. The Company employs a communications-centered approach to develop advanced technologies targeted at the converging requirements of implementing systems on chips for communications, consumer and peripheral electronics. Leveraging the application expertise of its partners, Chartered builds core logic flows and plug-in modules for deep sub-micron manufacturing processes that address complex system requirements at the silicon level.

It is the Company's "communications-smart" focus that led to a strategic alliance with Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. and the Institute of Microelectronics in the spring of 1999. The companies worked together to develop highly integrated RF CMOS chips for Bluetooth-based applications, targeted initially for Chartered's 0.35-micron process. A joint development agreement with Ericsson followed in December 1999 focused on 0.25-micron and 0.18-micron RF CMOS and BiCMOS technologies. Chartered's 0.13-micron baseline process jointly developed with communications semiconductor leader Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group will provide the foundation for Chartered's reusable RF CMOS module at the 0.13-micron technology node.

"Our relationship with Chartered provides a win-win solution by spreading the cost of technology development, and it provides the manufacturing flexibility and capacity needed for rapid market expansion," said Kjell Bohlin, general manager for RF integrated circuits at Ericsson Microelectronics. "Chartered has demonstrated the commitment we expect of manufacturing partners, enabling Ericsson to meet time-to-market and to serve customers with our leading radio transceiver technology."

"We have been impressed and very satisfied with the level of cooperation between Oki and Chartered in defining and implementing solutions for our system needs in the RF CMOS area. Bluetooth-based products are an especially critical part of our overall strategy for growth, and the breadth of offering Chartered has developed into its technology roadmap will be important to stay on top of these fast-moving markets," said Kaoru Saito, general manager of the Advanced Products Department at Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

About Chartered
Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing is one of the world's top three silicon foundries. The Company's business model is distinguished by its strategy to build trusted long-term relationships, where manufacturing is part of a larger customer-service focus that includes joint development and implementation of new process technologies supporting novel applications within the broad communications market. Chartered operates five semiconductor fabrication facilities at its Singapore headquarters, with a sixth fab under construction. A company with both global presence and perspective, Chartered is traded on both the Nasdaq Stock Market in the United States (NASDAQ:CHRT) and on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited in Singapore (SGX-ST:CHARTERED). The Company reported 1999 revenues of US$694.3 million. More than 3400 Chartered employees are based at 11 locations around the world.

Chartered Safe Harbor Statement under the provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This news release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the statements relating to the milestones and capabilities relating to Chartered's RF CMOS manufacturing processes, and the appropriateness of its business model, strategy and technology roadmap, reflect Chartered's current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For example, the successful implementation of the strategic alliances, unforeseen delays or interruptions in the development or qualification of its RF CMOS manufacturing process, modules and solutions, and changes in the market outlook and customer demand for RF CMOS and other communications products, could affect the above-mentioned forward-looking statements. Although Chartered believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. A description of certain of the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements can be found in the section captioned "Risk Factors" in the Chartered's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Chartered undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.